Her Excellency Dr. H. N. Manzini, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Mauritius, accompanied by Mr. Matlhaba Mogadingwane, First Secretary (Political), met with Mr. Mahen Kundasamy, Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Board (EDB), during a courtesy visit held on 27 May 2025.
This high-level meeting reaffirmed the strong bilateral relations between Mauritius and South Africa. Discussions emphasised the importance of enhancing existing synergies to accelerate the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the blueprint for Africa’s long-term socio-economic transformation and continental vision.
The meeting also addressed the need to strengthen Africa’s economic base by supporting entrepreneurship and small businesses, improving infrastructure, and building integrated value chains across borders. Underlining this commitment, H.E. Dr. H. N. Manzini shared that she has already facilitated three visits by South African SMEs to Mauritius to explore trade opportunities, which clearly indicates that these businesses are gaining momentum and poised to take off toward regional expansion. These initiatives align with boosting intra-African trade and promoting economic self-reliance, key pillars of both the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063.
The CEO of the EDB highlighted the significant potential of Mauritius to deepen bilateral trade relations with South Africa, outlining the country’s business-friendly policies, robust financial ecosystem, stable and transparent regulatory framework, skilled bilingual workforce, and extensive network of trade agreements. These attributes position Mauritius as an ideal partner for South African businesses seeking to expand their footprint into Asia and beyond.
In the spirit of Pan-Africanism and drawing from his personal exposure to the realities in areas affected by unrest and conflict during his earlier diplomatic career, Mr. Kundasamy underscored the importance of South Africa and Mauritius joining forces as a unified voice to promote peace and stability, which are fundamental pillars for advancing economic development and long-term prosperity across the continent. He further emphasised the strategic role both nations can play in fostering unity, regional cooperation, and resilience throughout Africa.
The meeting concluded on an optimistic note, marked by a shared vision for stronger collaboration and promising partnerships ahead. Both the EDB and the High Commission of the Republic of South Africa reaffirmed their commitment to transforming ideas into meaningful projects that advance the continent’s long-term interests.
